Programmable communicator

ABSTRACT

A programmable communicator device is disclosed having a wireless communications circuit, including an antenna, configured to receive a transmission, and an identity module having a unique identifier. The programmable communicator further includes a processing module including program code configured to determine if the transmission is from an authenticated caller by determining whether a received transmission contains the unique identifier, and memory configured to store telephone numbers or IP addresses received in transmissions from an authenticated caller.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application is a continuation of and claims priority fromall priority dates of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/329,212, filedJan. 10, 2006, and entitled “Programmable Communicator”. As aconsequence of this priority claim, this patent application also claimspriority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/296,571, filed Jan. 21,2003, and entitled “Programmable Communicator,” which is a NationalPhase filing of and claims priority to PCT/EP01/05738 filed on May 18,2001, which further claims priority from Finland Application 20001239,filed May 23, 2000. The disclosures of each of these applications areincorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a programmable wireless communicationsapparatus. More particularly, it relates to a programmable wirelesscommunications apparatus, which can provide an improved means ofcommunication between children and their parents, between elderlypersons and caring relatives, and between mentally less-able individualsand supervising adults. In addition, the invention provides a solutionfor smart clothes applications, which may comprise a telecommunicationsmeans within the lining of a jacket or other article of clothing, aswell as a solution for user-programmable data tags which conveyinformation from remotely located devices such as vending machines. Theinvention relates to and significantly improves upon a previously filedpatent application claiming Finnish priority of Sep. 9, 1997 entitled aPortable Hotlink Communicator published as international patentapplication PCT/GB98/02715.

In this previously filed application, is taught the invention of using amobile phone comprising a programmable identity module such as a SIMcard, in the context of the GSM telecommunications standard, to programthe number of any mobile or fixed telephone to which the Hotlinkcommunicator, comprising a similar type of programmable identity module,is to be linked. Existing and known methods of communication between themobile phone and Hotlink communicator for the purpose of programmingcomprise the obvious choice of data calls such as the Short MessageService in the GSM telecommunications standard. Alternatively a PDA typecommunicator might call up a web page to instruct a network element toprogram the programmable identity module of the Hotlink with the numberof any fixed or mobile telephone to which the Hotlink communicator is tobe linked.

This use of a separate mobile phone to program the number to which theHotlink may call is particularly useful and convenient should a parentwish to change the number if the parent must leave shortly and want thatthe Hotlink is connected immediately to the mobile phone or fixed lineof another parent or supervising neighbour.

The current invention builds upon the teaching of this earlierapplication and extends the concept significantly that it has moregeneral and suitable application to both the child Hotlink communicatorand also to the field of programmable wireless data communication tagsfor the purpose of providing information about the status of a vendingmachine or other piece of technical equipment such as a home applianceor a device to monitor whether a door is open or closed.

In addition to this, the current invention relates directly toprogrammable wireless data communication tags, which comprise the meansto be interfaced directly with other technical equipment such that eachtag can be programmed remotely by any means to be linked to any fixed ormobile telephone to enable data to be sent to or from the device and toallow a person to make a voice call connection to the linked telephone.

Today parents are concerned whether to provide a young child with amobile phone or not. The concern relates to the cost of the mobile phoneshould it be lost or stolen and also to the cost of the use of themobile phone. Clearly there is a need to provide a means to limit thecost of calling and also to provide a means to prevent the child dialingoverseas numbers for extensive periods of time.

In the context of mobile phone operators, there exists a need to providea simple and effective communication device, which can provide the meansfor family tariffing such that subscriptions for children can be relatedto the subscriptions of their parents' mobile phones. An improved childHotlink communicator, which restricts the usage of the mobile phone andthereby does not generate high charges through uncontrolled calling, isclearly a solution to the family tariffing challenge.

Parents are often concerned about the whereabouts of their children andnew positioning technologies are being developed for locating mobilephones. These solutions include self-positioning solutions and remotepositioning solutions. One example of a self-positioning solutionincludes the satellite-based Global Positioning System technology inwhich the mobile phone comprising a GPS signal processing circuit isable to determine the coordinates of its own position by processingsignals received from satellites and communicate these coordinates to alocation centre associated with the network. One example of a remotepositioning solution is the method taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,051,741claiming priority of Mar. 27, 1990 in which the mobile phone is pagedand caused to transmit a response which is processed by communicationstations such as time-of-arrival measurement units associated with thenetwork of master stations or base stations.

This remote positioning method has the advantage that the position ofthe mobile phone can be determined by making use of existing signallingbetween the mobile phone and the network without requiring any changesto the mobile phone, which would increase its cost. The genericnetwork-based, remote-positioning architecture method of U.S. Pat. No.5,051,741 may make use of time of arrival methods or phase differencecalculations to increase the resolution of the area or sector withinwhich the mobile phone is located.

While the location of the mobile phone itself is a good indication ofthe present location of the person carrying the mobile phone, animprovement would be a means to lock the mobile phone to the child, suchthat use of the mobile phone positioning technologies would thendetermine the position of the child.

In addition to these concerns about the failures of existing mobilecommunications technology to provide an improved and more secure methodof instant communication between a parent and a young child, and themeans to determine the position of the child, there is additionalconcern that the battery of the communicator may drain its power withoutthe parent knowing, or may be removed, which would prevent thecommunicator from receiving calls or dialing to the programmed fixed ormobile number to which the communicator is linked.

In addition to these specific communication problem needs, there is agrowing yet unsubstantiated concern about the potentially harmful effectof electromagnetic radiation from mobile phones upon the developingbrains of young children. Within this context, there is an opportunityto design a communication device for children, which positions theradiating electromagnetic field of a communication device away from theclose proximity of the brain. In this regard, parents who maintain thebelief that mobile telephones present a health risk due to the radiatingantenna may rest secure in the knowledge that this risk can besignificantly reduced.

In a separate context, there exists a growing need for a mobiletelephone solution, which is cost effective to manufacture, but which isversatile such that it can form the basis for a smart clothes tag orcommunications application platform. In this context the requirement isfor an embedded mobile phone platform comprising no keypad or display,which may be sewn into the lining of a jacket, or other article ofclothing, having only the call button protruding and a simple pinconnection to recharge the battery. The problem with prior art solutionsis that unless the smart clothes tag can be user-programmable to callany fixed or mobile number by making use of an acceptable method such asvia an SMS data call or via a BlueTooth radio transmission from a mobilephone or intelligent PDA, the solution is impractical to implement.

In security applications where emergency service personnel carryhand-held primary communications devices such as conventional mobilephones, a back-up communications device such as a smart clothes embeddedtag can be of great value in the instance that the primarycommunications device is lost or broken.

In sports areas such as on lakes where there may be people using canoes,a smart clothes communications tag embedded in a life vest may serve toalert a central control point that a person is in difficulty and also toalert other persons in the area to go to their rescue.

In an additional application area, skiers in difficulty would benefitfrom a smart clothes user-programmable communications tag attached totheir clothing, which is pre-programmed to be linked with a fixed ormobile telephone and need only have its protruding button pressed tomake communication with a central alarm point.

In an additional application area there exists the need for auser-programmable remote wireless communications data tag, which can beused to relay information about the status of a remote piece oftechnical equipment such as a vending machine. Home networks could besimplified by making use of the existing mobile network infrastructureto relay data about the status of a home appliance or to indicatewhether a door is open or closed. Packet switched technologies such asGPRS may be used as the radio access technology to communicate thestatus of the technical equipment.

In an additional application area there exists the need for a versatilecommunications platform, which can be combined with remote healthmonitoring technology to assist doctors with remote diagnosis ofpatients.

In an additional application there is the need for a versatilecommunications which is able to work effectively when the network istemporarily overloaded such that it has the means to store a soundmessage as a sound byte or convert it using voice recognition softwaresuch that it can be forwarded as soon as the network capacity becomesless loaded.

Further to these limitations of existing technologies, and so far as isknown, no portable communication apparatus is presently available whichserves to offer an improved programmable communicator which is directedtowards the specific needs of this problem area as outlined.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide animproved programmable communications apparatus, which can be remotelyprogrammed by any mobile phone or IP device such that it can be linkedto any particular fixed or mobile phone or IP device.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aprogrammable communications apparatus, which may be programmed at closerange using infrared light or a BlueTooth radio connection, or via aterminal-to-terminal network based data call such as the GSM SMS shortmessage service or via a GPRS packet data communication.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aprogrammable communications apparatus, which may be programmed by amobile or fixed device which is able to call up an Internet web page andwhich comprises the means to instruct the network to reprogram thecommunications apparatus with the mobile or fixed number to which theprogrammable communications device is to be linked.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aprogrammable communications apparatus, which may be programmed via theInternet such that the network communicates with a device in thevicinity of the programmable communications apparatus which itselfcauses the said apparatus to be programmed using any means such aswireless communication, infrared light or a BlueTooth radio link.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a pluralityof programmable communications apparatuses, which may be simultaneouslyprogrammed by a mobile or fixed device which is able to call up anInternet web page and select one or more apparatuses of the saidplurality and cause each of the selected number of apparatuses to belinked to the identical mobile or fixed telephone.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aprogrammable communications apparatus, which comprises a processingmeans to process coded transmissions and permit only transmissionscomprising a coded number, which determines the authenticity of themessage, to be allowed to program the number to which the said apparatusbe linked.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aprogrammable communications apparatus, which comprises a wrist strap, oran attachment such as in the case of the smart clothes application, anda first alarm means which can be programmed such that it can cause amessage to be sent to the fixed or mobile number to which the saidapparatus is linked in the case that the wrist strap be broken or undoneor in the case that the said attachment be broken or displaced from aninitial position of equilibrium.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aprogrammable communications apparatus, which may have a separatepressure sensitive means or displaceable means which becomes activatedin the pressed position or displaced position respectively such that itis able to generate an alarm or data message when pressure is removed orwhen the displacement returns to the non-displaced position. Such afeature serves, by way of example, to replace the need for the wriststrap feature of the previous object such that when the wrist worncommunicator is removed from the wrist the pressure sensitive means ordisplaceable means can provide the required alarm message.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aprogrammable communications apparatus, which comprises a heat sensor,which can detect that the communicator is adjacent to a heat source suchas the skin of a child and the means to generate an alarm message if theheat source is removed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aprogrammable communications apparatus, which has the means to detect anyother detectable physical characteristic of the human skin, which may beused to trigger an alarm if the means is moved away from the skin.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aprogrammable communications apparatus for a security application, whichcomprises an infrared heat detector and which is able to generate analarm message if a change in the level of infrared radiation isdetected.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aprogrammable communications apparatus, which may form part of a homenetwork of devices, which is used to monitor a domestic appliance suchas a washing machine or a device to monitor whether a door or window isopen or closed and to react to a change in status of said appliance ordevice by sending an alarm message or data message to a linked fixed ormobile telephone or internet IP address to indicate a current status ofsaid appliance or device. In addition the said apparatus may beincorporated in a bicycle frame or attached to a bicycle for monitoringmovement of the bicycle.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aprogrammable communications apparatus, which has a memory means to storesound as a sound byte for a certain period of time such as the voice ofthe child wearing the programmable communicator and the means to sendthis sound to the telephone number to which the said apparatus islinked.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aprogrammable communications apparatus, which has a means to store andtransmit a sound byte in response to receiving a sound above apredetermined threshold such that a person who is in distress may shoutout and the distress call is processed by the programmable communicatorand forwarded to the fixed or mobile telephone or IP address to whichthe said communicator is linked.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aprogrammable communications apparatus, which is able to make a call to alinked fixed or mobile telephone or IP address and which if it detectsthat the telephone number is engaged or does not answer or that the IPaddress is invalid, the said apparatus has the means to select any othertelephone number or IP address in the permitted callers list such thatit can be connected to said other telephone or IP device.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aprogrammable communications apparatus, which is able to store a soundbyte or store a data record and send the sound byte or data record toany other telephone number or IP address in the permitted callers listafter a certain interval of time in the instance that the primary numberor IP address is engaged or connection is not able to be made at thattime due to the network capacity not being sufficient at that time. Thefeature may also include a continuous retry feature such that theattempt to send the sound byte or data record is continued until thesound byte or data record is successfully sent.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aprogrammable communications apparatus, which has the means to convert avoice message into text and send this as a data message to a fixed ormobile telephone or IP address to which the said apparatus is linked.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aprogrammable communications apparatus, which is able to receive datafrom a plurality of data monitoring devices, which may be connected byany wired or wireless means, and that each of said devices has anassociated status condition, such that the programmable communicationsapparatus can transmit data from said devices on request or periodicallyto a fixed or mobile telephone or IP address to which the said apparatusis linked.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aprogrammable communications apparatus, in which the said first alarmmeans may communicate directly with a central communications point inthe network.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aprogrammable communications apparatus, in which the said first alarmmeans may communicate directly with a web page and write information tothat page or cause an E-mail to be sent to a specific address.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aprogrammable communications apparatus, which comprises a second alarmmeans, which can be programmed to cause a message to be sent to thefixed or mobile number to which the said apparatus is linked in the casethat the battery is low in power or in the case that the battery isremoved or in the case that the communicator be switched off.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aprogrammable communications apparatus, which comprises a second alarmmeans, which can be programmed to send a message periodically comprisingany status message such as the current power status of the battery.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aprogrammable communications apparatus, which comprises a battery chargeradapter-pin such that the apparatus can make use of suitable batterychargers of other mobile phones.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aprogrammable communications apparatus, which comprises the means to beinterrogated remotely by another fixed or mobile telephone or networkconnected device, such that different codes are used to obtain differentdata from the said apparatus. In the context of remote healthmonitoring, by way of example, a doctor could send different codes fromher mobile terminal and obtain different data on blood pressure and theheart rate of the person wearing the apparatus associated with a healthmonitoring system. The said apparatus may make use of physicalmonitoring means associated with said apparatus for providinginformation about the skin temperature and blood pressure and othercharacteristics of the human body.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aprogrammable communications apparatus, which has application to smartclothes such that it provides a secondary communications means foremergency service personnel.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aprogrammable communications apparatus, which is suitable for attachmentto a life vest. A further object of this application includes awater-enabled communications apparatus, which may be used to communicatewith a portable central communications unit.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aprogrammable communications apparatus, which comprises a GPS signalprocessing circuit and the means to respond to an authenticated requestto determine its own position and send data relating to its position tothe linked fixed or mobile telephone or to a location determinationcentre or to a specified web page.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aprogrammable communications apparatus, which may be securely attached toa device such as a bicycle, which may be used for communication and fordetermining the position of the bicycle.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aprogrammable communications apparatus, which is suitable for youngchildren such that it comprises an auto-answer facility to connect thecaller immediately with an associated microphone and loudspeaker toavoid the need that the child must press a button to answer the call.This application also includes the feature, which returns theprogrammable communicator automatically to idle state as soon as thecaller to the child terminates the call remotely. This avoids the needthat the child must terminate the call. It also prevents the child fromterminating the call by accident.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aprogrammable communications apparatus, which can be used with mobilelocation based services such that it is possible for an authenticatedperson to access a web page, either on a hand-held terminal or fixeddevice, which shows the position of the programmable communicationsapparatus as an icon on a map after its position has been determined byits own GPS signal processing circuitry or remotely by the network.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent fromthe description to follow when read in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Certain of the foregoing and related objects are readily-attainedaccording to the present invention by the provision of a novel portableprogrammable communicator, which serves to address the diversecommunication requirements of children and elderly persons and for thepurposes of remote data monitoring applications such as for monitoringthe status of remote technical devices.

The programmable communicator preferably comprises a basic mobiletelephone circuit having no keypad or display and a rechargeable batteryand antenna and a basic two-way microphone device and remotelypre-programmable identity module linking it to a single mobile or fixedtelephone. Where appropriate, in alternative embodiments, theprogrammable communicator comprises an alarm means to indicate certainconditions of the communicator such as the charge level of its batteryor if the battery is removed. Similar alarm messages are generatedaccording to the particular embodiment of the programmable communicatorapplication which include the generation of messages when an associatedwrist strap or attachment of the communicator in the case of a smartclothes application is undone or displaced or when the communicator isswitched on or off or when the communicator is set to monitor the statuscondition of an associated device and the status changes beyond a presetthreshold level. The invention also includes the generation of periodicmessages to indicate that the communicator is working and that anyassociated status condition thresholds remain unchanged. This last setof messages, which includes periodic reassurances messages includes thefacility that the user may set the duration of the period according tothe application.

The programmable communicator has direct and effective application tohome networks for the purpose of transmitting information about thestatus condition of domestic appliances such as the pressure of waterpipes and whether a door or window is opened or closed. The wirelessprogrammable communicator can be attached to an associated monitoringdevice and programmed with the number of a mobile or fixed telephone towhich it is to be linked or to an Internet web page which can be madeaccessible to authenticated users or to security monitoring personnel.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparentfrom the following detailed description considered in connection withthe accompanying drawings, which disclose one embodiment of theinvention. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings aredesigned for the purpose of illustration only and that the particulardescription of the portable hot link communicating apparatus is given byway of example only and does not limit the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing features of the invention will be more readily understoodby reference to the following detailed description, taken with referenceto the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates the schematic of the programmable communicatoraccording to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a schema showing the actions performed by theprogrammable communicator in response to an incoming call or messageaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a schema showing actions done by the programmablecommunicator and the outgoing calls or messages, which are generated asa consequence of said actions.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now in detail to the drawings and in particular FIG. 1thereof, therein illustrated is a programmable communicating apparatusaccording to one embodiment of the present invention.

The following description makes reference to the detailed features asoutlined in the objects of the invention.

In FIG. 1 is shown a telephone circuit 10, which comprises an antenna 20and a battery 30. To the telephone circuit, which may similarly comprisea communicating PDA device circuit, is shown an optional BlueToothmodule 40 for communication with a nearby data communication orprogramming device having a similar BlueTooth radio module. Thetelephone circuit 10 has a ringing tone generator and an auto answermodule 50 which may be used to cause the programmable communicator togenerate one of a number of ringing tones or to auto answer upon receiptof an authenticated permitted caller.

For the purposes of programming the IP address or telephone number ofthe fixed or mobile telephone to which the communicator is linked isprovided an SMS processing means 60. This communicates with anauthentication means 90, which in turn is able to store numbers into apermitted callers list 110. For the purposes of security, a sound bytecapture means and threshold detector means 100 is provided to generatean alarm message or to send a sound byte to one of the numbers on thepermitted callers list. Additional voice recognition software may beused to convert the sound byte into text and send this to thedestination telephone number or IP address.

An SMS alarm generation means 70 is provided to work together with abattery charge monitor 35 and a sensor means 80 and an alarm messagelist 120 and a programmable interface means 140 to generate alarmmessages in response to changes in status conditions. Said programmableinterface means may be attached to all manner of sensor devices for thepurpose of relaying data from external devices and sensors eitherautomatically or in response to a request for information from a remotedevice.

The periodic status report means 130 may be programmed to provide dataon the current status of the programmable communicator as well as datafrom one or more devices, which may be connected to the communicator viathe BlueTooth module 40.

In the case that the programmable communicator is unable to make animmediate connection with the linked telephone or IP address, areselection means 150 provides one or more connection numbers from thepermitted callers list.

This device comprises a novel combination of existing technologies andfeatures, which make possible the existence of a new and improvedcommunicating apparatus to address the communication needs of childrenand elderly persons and for programmable data tags for monitoring thestatus of associated technical equipment.

The use of the programmable communicator involves two phases, apre-programming phase and an active phase. In the pre-programming phase,the communicator is programmed with the number it can call whichcomprises a unique code. By way of example only, the invention is nowdescribed in the context of the GSM mobile telecommunications standardusing the Short Message Service or SMS circuit-switched data call. Theinvention relates to all telephone standards including, and not limitedto CDMA and US-TDMA, and is effectively used also in a packet switchingmode such as the GSM GPRS packet switching mode. Furthermore theinvention is suitably applicable to IP devices, which comprise IPaddresses rather than telephone numbers.

According to the invention, it is wished to allow only authenticatedcallers to change the telephone number or IP address of a fixed ormobile telephone or network device to which the programmablecommunicator is to be linked. This may be done in GSM using an SMSmessage, which includes data as well as a unique code such as the uniquecode of the Subscriber Identity Module or SIM card, often referred to asthe PUK code. The PUK code is a unique identifier, which is differentfor every SIM card. The choice of the PUK is made by way of example onlyand any similar unique coding may be used for the purpose of theinvention

It is a straightforward procedure to communicate with the programmablecommunicator by SMS. The remote transmitting device includes the PUKcode of the receiving programmable communicator in its SMS transmissionas well as a telephone number to which the programmable communicator isto be linked.

The programmable communicator includes a processing means to determinethat the PUK code is correct and the means to store the transmittednumber. The PUK code may also be used to program the list of permittedcallers. An SMS comprising the PUK code may contain a plurality oftelephone numbers each of which designates a permitted caller's number.Only numbers, which are stored as designated permitted callers, willcause the programmable communicator to generate a ringing tone.

Alternatively, the programmable communicator may include circuitry toterminate the calls of non-permitted callers automatically. In the sameway that the telephone number of an incoming call can be shown on thescreen of a mobile phone before the phone is answered, this informationmay be used to enable the programmable communicator to receive the callor to reject it.

Additional codes may be used by authenticated callers to interrogate thestatus condition of the programmable communicator, or to interrogate thestatus of data monitoring devices to which the communicator is wired orwirelessly attached.

In this way, in the application for an improved child communicator, onlypersons knowing the secret PUK code would be able to change the callingnumber. This provides the essential security for the parents.Furthermore, the feature, which causes the communicator to reject allcalls but those from telephone numbers on the permitted callers listserves to shield the child from unwelcome contact.

The following example demonstrates how five SMS messages might programthe permitted callers list A-E

SMS 1. PUK code A:040 111 1111

SMS 2. PUK code B:040 222 2222

SMS 3. PUK code C:040 333 3333

SMS 4. PUK code D:040 444 4444

SMS 5. PUK code E:040 555 5555

The letters A to E in the five messages or any equivalent coding may beused to designate the priority of the telephone numbers of the permittedcallers such that letter A designates the number to which theprogrammable communicator is linked at this moment.

In a simple use scenario, a child may be playing in the garden or nearto the house wearing a programmable communicator programmed to themother's telephone phone number, 040 111 1111. In the next moment, thefather comes home and sends an SMS to the child's programmablecommunicator using his phone having telephone number 040 222 2222. Inthis example, the message comprises PUK code A:040 222 2222 which causethe calling number of the programmable communicator to be nowreprogrammed to call the father's number if its call button is pressedby the child.

An additional security feature comprises software, which will cause anSMS emergency message to be sent automatically to the pre-programmednumber if the wrist strap is broken or undone, or the communicator isswitched off. An additional sensor may be used instead of a means togenerate an SMS message if the wrist strap is broken or undone wherebysaid sensor can sense the heat of the skin, which will cause an SMSmessage to be sent if the communicator is moved away from the skin.

Additional software features may generate messages to indicate thecharge of the battery or if the battery drains completely or is removed.

To avoid a total failure condition, the programmable communicator maycomprise a separate back-up power supply in addition to the battery,which is sufficient to generate an alarm message or number of alarmmessages, in the instance that a power connection is lost from anassociated device or if its own battery supply drains completely.

In this way, the telephone number to which the programmable communicatoris linked receives messages about the status of the battery and anindication of whether the communicator has been removed from the child.

In a separate embodiment, is included the feature that certain alarmmessages are sent to one or more of the telephone numbers, or IPaddresses in the IP network application of this invention, which are onthe permitted callers list. This feature would enable at least one otherperson to receive an alarm message in case the primary linked telephoneis busy or the associated user of the linked telephone is unable to readthe message immediately.

The programmable communicator comprises a processing module, which canreceive information about its wrist strap or associated attachment. Inthe embodiment of a smart clothes tag, the said associated attachmentmay comprise a fibre or wire, which, if mechanically pulled, causes thegeneration of an alarm message. Clearly, in the case of a wrist worncommunicator, the opening or closing of the wrist strap may be used toactivate an electronic circuit to generate a status condition of thewrist strap. It is anticipated that the receiver of the alarm messagemay then call the child directly, if possible, to check if there is aproblem. Additionally, location based services may be used to locate theposition of the communicator relative to the network infrastructure.

In a separate embodiment, the programmable communicator comprises afeature, which enables a user to cause it to transmit a status messageperiodically, according to a periodic duration as set by the user, whichwill provide reassurance that the communicator is functioning correctly,and for example, that the wrist strap is closed, and that the batteryhas sufficient power.

The types of data that the communicator can provide periodically, or onrequest, are determined directly by the application of the inventionaccording to different remote monitoring embodiments. In eachapplication the programmable communicator has the appropriate means toreceive the data from the monitoring device and the means to process thedata.

The programmable communicator has further direct application to thefield of remote data monitoring such as in the home network environment.Today, domestic appliances such as washing machines and sauna heatersremain separate from one another and only a few have the capability tobe integrated into remote monitoring applications.

The programmable communicator may be used to generate data messages,which describe the status or change in status beyond a thresholdcondition, of a household appliance and communicate this data directlyto a linked telephone number or IP address of a linked device orInternet web page.

The use of GSM GPRS packet switching technology in this context is idealsince the application does not require a continuous circuit switchedconnection to the network. The remote monitoring application comprisesthe use of a programmable communicator, which reacts to a statuscondition and then initiates a packet data transmission to the network.Consequently, the programmable communicator comprises a separate back-uppower supply in addition to the battery, which is sufficient to generatean alarm message or number of alarm messages, in the instance that apower connection is lost from an associated device or if its own batterysupply drains completely.

In a separate home-network application, the programmable communicatormay be used to gather data from a number of associated monitoringdevices and to communicate this to the linked telephone or IP device orInternet web page. The monitoring devices may be directly linked to theprogrammable communicator by wire or wirelessly connected by, forexample, the BlueTooth radio technology in which case the programmablecommunicator comprises the necessary additional BlueTooth communicationsmodule.

In a sports or safety application, the programmable communicator maycomprise a smart clothes tag and be sewn into the lining of a life vestsuch that a person paddling a canoe may use it for urgent communication.

Other applications for the programmable communicator include theme parksand other sports events or places where children may become lost in thecrowds.

In addition, the invention may be utilised as a voice and datacommunicator for bicycles. In this application, data from the bicyclesuch as speed could be used in sports training as a means to enhance theperformance of a cyclist. In a more general application, a programmablecommunicator can be used to inform the owner of a bicycle that hisparked bicycle is being moved and to determine its location, if needed,by making use of the location-based services functionality of thetelecommunications network.

While only one embodiment of the present invention: the programmablecommunicator within the context of the digital GSM telephone system inparticular, has been shown and described in detail, it will be obviousto those persons of ordinary skill in the art, that many changes andmodifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit ofthe invention. For example, the hot link communicator may make use ofany telephone technology such as CDMA, and US-TDMA. Moreover, theinventive features of the programmable communicator may be incorporatedinto a monitoring device and integrated with it such that the devicecomprises the capability of the programmable communicator. The inventionis not limited to the application of the programmable communicator as aseparate device, which separately communicates with data monitoringdevices but also includes the application of the functionality of theinvention as an integrated part of the monitoring device.

It is further to be understood that the invention may make use of allcoding schemes for storing numbers to the programmable apparatus and theuse of the PUK code was by way of example only. The programmablecommunicator may comprise the means to accept all manner of clip oncovers so that the same base model may carry one of a number ofdifferent covers to suit the tastes and the age groups of differentwearers.

1. A programmable communicator device comprising: a wirelesscommunications circuit for communicating through an antenna over acommunications network; an identity module for storing a uniqueidentifier that is unique to the programmable communicator device; aprogrammable interface for establishing a communication link with atleast one monitored technical device; a processing module forauthenticating an at least one transmission sent from a programmingtransmitter and received by the programmable communicator device, the atleast one transmission including a coded number and at least onetelephone number or Internet Protocol (IP) address corresponding to anat least one monitoring device, wherein the processing moduleauthenticates the at least one transmission by determining if the atleast one transmission contains the coded number, the processing moduleauthenticating the at least one transmission if the transmissionincludes the coded number; a memory module for storing the at least onetelephone number or IP address from the authenticated transmission asone of one or more permitted callers if the processing moduleauthenticates the at least one transmission by determining that the atleast one transmission includes the coded number; and wherein the atleast one transmission from a programming transmitter comprises a ShortMessage Service (SMS) data message, or a General Packet Radio Service(GPRS) or other packet switched data message.
 2. A programmablecommunicator device according to claim 1 wherein the programmableinterface is programmable via wireless transmissions.
 3. A programmablecommunicator device according to claim 2 wherein the wirelesstransmissions comprise transmissions compliant with Bluetooth wirelessair interface standards.
 4. A programmable communicator device accordingto claim 1 wherein the at least one transmission from a programmingtransmitter comprises an SMS data message.
 5. A programmablecommunicator device according to claim 1 wherein the at least onetransmission from a programming transmitter comprises a GPRS datamessage.
 6. A programmable communicator device according to claim 1wherein each permitted caller has a corresponding stored telephonenumber or IP address from which the programmable communicator device ispermitted to receive incoming transmissions for processing.
 7. Aprogrammable communicator device according to claim 1 wherein eachpermitted caller has a corresponding stored telephone number or IPaddress to which the programmable communicator device is permitted tosend outgoing transmissions.
 8. A programmable communicator deviceaccording to claim 1 wherein each permitted caller has a correspondingstored telephone number or IP address from which the programmablecommunicator device is permitted to receive incoming transmissions forprocessing, and to which the programmable communicator device ispermitted to send outgoing transmissions.
 9. A programmable communicatordevice according to claim 1 wherein storing the at least one telephonenumber or IP address from the authenticated transmission as one of oneor more permitted callers further entails changing, replacing, orreprioritizing one or more previously stored telephone numbers or IPaddresses corresponding to one or more other permitted callers.
 10. Aprogrammable communicator device according to claim 1 configured toreceive data through the programmable interface from an at least onemonitored technical device.
 11. A programmable communicator deviceaccording to claim 10 configured to process the data received throughthe programmable interface from the at least one monitored technicaldevice.
 12. A programmable communicator device according to claim 11,wherein the processing module processes the received data.
 13. Aprogrammable communicator device according to claim 11 furtherconfigured to request that an at least one monitored technical devicesend data through the programmable interface for processing by theprogrammable communicator device.
 14. A programmable communicator deviceaccording to claim 11 further configured to transmit the processed datato an at least one monitoring device either periodically or in responseto a request initiated by the at least one monitoring device.
 15. Aprogrammable communicator device according to claim 14, wherein theprocessing module causes the processed data to be transmitted to the atleast one monitoring device.
 16. A programmable communicator deviceaccording to claim 14 further configured to determine whether the datarequest initiated by the monitoring device includes a required accesscode.
 17. A programmable communicator device according to claim 16,wherein the processing module determines whether the data requestincludes the required access code.
 18. A programmable communicatordevice according to claim 11 wherein the received data is processed todetermine whether it indicates a change in status of the at least onemonitored technical device that crosses a threshold parameter, or thatotherwise indicates an alarm condition.
 19. A programmable communicatordevice according to claim 18 further configured to send an at least onetransmission for alerting an at least one monitoring device of saidchange in status or other alarm condition.
 20. A programmablecommunicator device according to claim 19, further comprising an alarmmodule for sending the at least one transmission for alerting the atleast one monitoring device of said change in status or other alarmcondition.
 21. A programmable communicator device according to claim 10further configured to request that an at least one monitored technicaldevice send data through the programmable interface for receipt by theprogrammable communicator device.
 22. A programmable communicator deviceaccording to claim 10 further configured to transmit the received datato an at least one monitoring device either periodically or in responseto a request initiated by the at least one monitoring device.
 23. Aprogrammable communicator device according to claim 10, wherein theprocessing module causes the received data to be transmitted to the atleast one monitoring device.
 24. A programmable communicator deviceaccording to claim 22 further configured to determine whether the datarequest initiated by the monitoring device includes a required accesscode.
 25. A programmable communicator device according to claim 24,wherein the processing module determines whether the data requestincludes the required access code.
 26. A programmable communicatordevice according to claim 1 configured to process an at least one datamonitoring or data collection request contained in an at least onetransmission received from an at least one monitoring device.
 27. Aprogrammable communicator device according to claim 1, wherein theprocessing module processes the at least one data monitoring or datacollection request.
 28. A programmable communicator device according toclaim 1 wherein the communications network is a cellular mobiletelecommunications network.
 29. A programmable communicator deviceaccording to claim 28 wherein the cellular mobile telecommunicationsnetwork utilizes GSM air interface standards.
 30. A programmablecommunicator device according to claim 28 wherein the cellular mobiletelecommunications network utilizes CDMA air interface standards.
 31. Aprogrammable communicator device according to claim 1 wherein the codednumber included in the at least one transmission is a unique identifierthat is unique to the programmable communicator device.
 32. Aprogrammable communicator device according to claim 31 wherein the codednumber that is unique to the programmable communicator device isassociated with a user identity card utilized by the programmablecommunicator device to access a cellular mobile telecommunicationsnetwork.
 33. A programmable communicator device according to claim 1wherein a user identity card utilized by the programmable communicatordevice to access a cellular mobile telecommunications network comprisesthe identity module for storing a unique identifier.
 34. A programmablecommunicator device according to claim 33, wherein the user identitycard is a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card.
 35. A programmablecommunicator device according to claim 1 wherein a user identity cardutilized by the programmable communicator device to access a cellularmobile telecommunications network comprises the memory module forstoring the at least one telephone number or IP address from theauthenticated transmission.
 36. A programmable communicator deviceaccording to claim 35, wherein the user identity card is a SIM card. 37.A programmable communicator device according to claim 1 wherein aportable device connected to the communications network comprises theprogramming transmitter that sends the at least one transmissionincluding a coded number.
 38. A programmable communicator deviceaccording to claim 1 wherein a fixed device connected to thecommunications network comprises the programming transmitter that sendsthe at least one transmission including a coded number.
 39. Aprogrammable communicator device according to claim 1 wherein a devicehaving an Internet web interface comprises the programming transmitterthat sends the at least one transmission including a coded number.
 40. Aprogrammable communicator device according to claim 1 wherein an atleast one monitoring device comprises the programming transmitter thatsends the at least one transmission including a coded number.
 41. Aprogrammable communicator device according to claim 1 configured tocommunicate between the at least one monitored technical device and theat least one monitoring device.
 42. A programmable communicator deviceaccording to claim 1 configured to be incorporated into the at least onemonitored technical device such that it becomes an integrated part ofthe monitored technical device.
 43. A programmable communicator deviceaccording to claim 1 wherein a central communications point in thecommunications network comprises the at least one monitoring device. 44.A programmable communicator device according to claim 1 furthercomprising a location processing module for determining an at least onelocation of the programmable communicator device, and wherein theprogrammable communicator device responds to an at least onetransmission initiated by an at least one monitoring device requestingthat said location data be sent to the monitoring device.
 45. Aprogrammable communicator device according to claim 44 wherein thelocation processing module comprises a Global Positioning System (GPS)module.
 46. A programmable communicator device according to claim 1wherein the monitored technical device is a sensor device.
 47. Aprogrammable communicator device according to claim 1 wherein themonitored technical device is a health monitoring system.
 48. Aprogrammable communicator device according to claim 47 wherein theprogrammable communicator receives data from the health monitoringsystem through the programmable interface representing at least one ofbody temperature, blood pressure, periodic or continuouselectrocardiogram heart rhythm, blood glucose concentration, bloodelectrolyte concentration, kidney function, liver function, and laborcontractions.
 49. A programmable communicator device according to claim1 wherein the monitored technical device is a vending machine.
 50. Aprogrammable communicator device according to claim 1 wherein themonitored technical device is a home or domestic appliance.
 51. Aprogrammable communicator device according to claim 1 wherein themonitored technical device is at least one of a door status monitoringdevice, a window status monitoring device, a proximity detector device,and a fire alarm device.
 52. A programmable communicator devicecomprising: a wireless communications circuit for communicating throughan antenna over a communications network; a programmable interface forestablishing a communication link with at least one monitored technicaldevice; a processing module for authenticating an at least onetransmission sent from a programming transmitter and received by theprogrammable communicator device, the at least one transmissionincluding a coded number and at least one telephone number or InternetProtocol (IP) address corresponding to an at least one monitoringdevice, wherein the processing module authenticates the at least onetransmission by determining if the at least one transmission containsthe coded number, the processing module authenticating the at least onetransmission if the transmission includes the coded number; wherein theprogrammable communicator device uses a memory module for storing the atleast one telephone number or IP address from the authenticatedtransmission as one of one or more permitted callers if the processingmodule authenticates the at least one transmission by determining thatthe at least one transmission includes the coded number; wherein theprogrammable communicator device uses an identity module for storing aunique identifier that is unique to the programmable communicatordevice; and wherein the at least one transmission from a programmingtransmitter comprises a Short Message Service (SMS) data message, or aGeneral Packet Radio Service (GPRS) or other packet switched datamessage.
 53. A programmable communicator device according to claim 52,wherein the programmable communicator device comprises the identitymodule.
 54. A programmable communicator device according to claim 52wherein the programmable interface is programmable via wirelesstransmissions.
 55. A programmable communicator device according to claim54 wherein the wireless transmissions comprise transmissions compliantwith Bluetooth wireless air interface standards.
 56. A programmablecommunicator device according to claim 52 wherein the at least onetransmission from a programming transmitter comprises an SMS datamessage.
 57. A programmable communicator device according to claim 52wherein the at least one transmission from a programming transmittercomprises a GPRS data message.
 58. A programmable communicator deviceaccording to claim 52 wherein each permitted caller has a correspondingstored telephone number or IP address from which the programmablecommunicator device is permitted to receive incoming transmissions forprocessing.
 59. A programmable communicator device according to claim 52wherein each permitted caller has a corresponding stored telephonenumber or IP address to which the programmable communicator device ispermitted to send outgoing transmissions.
 60. A programmablecommunicator device according to claim 52 wherein each permitted callerhas a corresponding stored telephone number or IP address from which theprogrammable communicator device is permitted to receive incomingtransmissions for processing, and to which the programmable communicatordevice is permitted to send outgoing transmissions.
 61. A programmablecommunicator device according to claim 52 wherein storing the at leastone telephone number or IP address from the authenticated transmissionas one of one or more permitted callers further entails changing,replacing, or reprioritizing one or more previously stored telephonenumbers or IP addresses corresponding to one or more other permittedcallers.
 62. A programmable communicator device according to claim 52configured to receive data through the programmable interface from an atleast one monitored technical device.
 63. A programmable communicatordevice according to claim 62 configured to process the data receivedthrough the programmable interface from an at least one monitoredtechnical device.
 64. A programmable communicator device according toclaim 63, wherein the processing module processes the received data. 65.A programmable communicator device according to claim 63 furtherconfigured to request that an at least one monitored technical devicesend data through the programmable interface for processing by theprogrammable communicator device.
 66. A programmable communicator deviceaccording to claim 63 further configured to transmit the processed datato an at least one monitoring device either periodically or in responseto a request initiated by the monitoring device.
 67. A programmablecommunicator device according to claim 66, wherein the processing modulecauses the processed data to be transmitted to the at least onemonitoring device.
 68. A programmable communicator device according toclaim 66 further configured to determine whether the data requestinitiated by the monitoring device includes a required access code. 69.A programmable communicator device according to claim 68, wherein theprocessing module determines whether the data request includes therequired access code.
 70. A programmable communicator device accordingto claim 63 wherein the received data is processed to determine whetherit indicates a change in status of the at least one monitored technicaldevice that crosses a threshold parameter, or that otherwise indicatesan alarm condition.
 71. A programmable communicator device according toclaim 70 further configured to send an at least one transmission foralerting an at least one monitoring device of said change in status orother alarm condition.
 72. A programmable communicator device accordingto claim 71, further comprising an alarm module for sending the at leastone transmission for alerting the at least one monitoring device of saidchange in status or other alarm condition.
 73. A programmablecommunicator device according to claim 62 further configured to requestthat an at least one monitored technical device send data through theprogrammable interface for receipt by the programmable communicatordevice.
 74. A programmable communicator device according to claim 62further configured to transmit the received data to an at least onemonitoring device either periodically or in response to a requestinitiated by the monitoring device.
 75. A programmable communicatordevice according to claim 74, wherein the processing module causes thereceived data to be transmitted to the at least one monitoring device.76. A programmable communicator device according to claim 74 furtherconfigured to determine whether the data request initiated by themonitoring device includes a required access code.
 77. A programmablecommunicator device according to claim 76, wherein the processing moduledetermines whether the data request includes the required access code.78. A programmable communicator device according to claim 52 configuredto process an at least one data monitoring or data collection requestcontained in an at least one transmission received from an at least onemonitoring device.
 79. A programmable communicator device according toclaim 78, wherein the processing module processes the at least one datamonitoring or data collection request.
 80. A programmable communicatordevice according to claim 52 wherein the communications network is acellular mobile telecommunications network.
 81. A programmablecommunicator device according to claim 80 wherein the cellular mobiletelecommunications network utilizes GSM air interface standards.
 82. Aprogrammable communicator device according to claim 80 wherein thecellular mobile telecommunications network utilizes CDMA air interfacestandards.
 83. A programmable communicator device according to claim 52wherein the coded number included in the at least one transmission is aunique identifier that is unique to the programmable communicatordevice.
 84. A programmable communicator device according to claim 83wherein the coded number that is unique to the programmable communicatordevice is associated with a user identity card utilized by theprogrammable communicator device to access a cellular mobiletelecommunications network.
 85. A programmable communicator deviceaccording to claim 52 wherein a user identity card utilized by theprogrammable communicator device to access a cellular mobiletelecommunications network comprises the identity module for storing aunique identifier.
 86. A programmable communicator device according toclaim 85, wherein the user identity card is a Subscriber Identity Module(SIM) card.
 87. A programmable communicator device according to claim 52wherein a user identity card utilized by the programmable communicatordevice to access a cellular mobile telecommunications network comprisesthe memory module for storing the at least one telephone number or IPaddress from the authenticated transmission.
 88. A programmablecommunicator device according to claim 87, wherein the user identitycard is a SIM card.
 89. A programmable communicator device according toclaim 52 wherein a portable device connected to the communicationsnetwork comprises the programming transmitter that sends the at leastone transmission including a coded number.
 90. A programmablecommunicator device according to claim 52 wherein a fixed deviceconnected to the communications network comprises the programmingtransmitter that sends the at least one transmission including a codednumber.
 91. A programmable communicator device according to claim 52wherein a device having an Internet web interface comprises theprogramming transmitter that sends the at least one transmissionincluding a coded number.
 92. A programmable communicator deviceaccording to claim 52 wherein an at least one monitoring devicecomprises the programming transmitter that sends the at least onetransmission including a coded number.
 93. A programmable communicatordevice according to claim 52 configured to communicate between the atleast one monitored technical device and the at least one monitoringdevice.
 94. A programmable communicator device according to claim 52configured to be incorporated into the at least one monitored technicaldevice such that it becomes an integrated part of the monitoredtechnical device.
 95. A programmable communicator device according toclaim 52 wherein a central communications point in the communicationsnetwork comprises the at least one monitoring device.
 96. A programmablecommunicator device according to claim 52 further comprising a locationprocessing module for determining an at least one location of theprogrammable communicator device, and wherein the programmablecommunicator device responds to an at least one transmission initiatedby an at least one monitoring device requesting that said location databe sent to the monitoring device.
 97. A programmable communicator deviceaccording to claim 52 wherein the location processing module comprises aGlobal Positioning System (GPS) module.
 98. A programmable communicatordevice according to claim 52 wherein the monitored technical device is asensor device.
 99. A programmable communicator device according to claim52 wherein the monitored technical device is a health monitoring system.100. A programmable communicator device according to claim 99 whereinthe programmable communicator device receives data from the healthmonitoring system through the programmable interface representing atleast one of body temperature, blood pressure, periodic or continuouselectrocardiogram heart rhythm, blood glucose concentration, bloodelectrolyte concentration, kidney function, liver function, and laborcontractions.
 101. A programmable communicator device according to claim52 wherein the monitored technical device is a vending machine.
 102. Aprogrammable communicator device according to claim 52 wherein themonitored technical device is a home or domestic appliance.
 103. Aprogrammable communicator device according to claim 52 wherein themonitored technical device is at least one of a door status monitoringdevice, a window status monitoring device, a proximity detector device,and a fire alarm device.
 104. A programmable communicator devicecomprising: a wireless communications circuit for communicating throughan antenna over a communications network; a programmable interface forestablishing a communication link with at least one monitored technicaldevice; an authentication module for authenticating a data messagecontained in an at least one transmission sent from a programmingtransmitter and received by the programmable communicator device, thedata message including a coded number and a least one telephone numberor Internet Protocol (IP) address corresponding to an at least onemonitoring device, wherein the authentication module authenticates thedata message by determining if the data message contains the codednumber, the authentication module authenticating the data message if itincludes the coded number; a permitted callers programming module forcausing a memory module to store the at least one telephone number or IPaddress from the authenticated data message as one of one or morepermitted callers if the authentication module authenticates the datamessage by determining that it includes the coded number; wherein theprogrammable communicator device uses an identity module for storing aunique identifier that is unique to the programmable communicatordevice; and wherein the data message contained in the at least onetransmission from a programming transmitter is a Short Message Service(SMS) data message, or a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) or otherpacket switched data message.
 105. A programmable communicator deviceaccording to claim 104, wherein the programmable communicator devicecomprises the identity module.
 106. A programmable communicator deviceaccording to claim 104 wherein the programmable interface isprogrammable via data messages.
 107. A programmable communicator deviceaccording to claim 106 wherein the data messages are contained intransmissions compliant with Bluetooth wireless air interface standards.108. A programmable communicator device according to claim 104 whereinthe at least one transmission from a programming transmitter comprisesan SMS data message.
 109. A programmable communicator device accordingto claim 104 wherein the at least one transmission from a programmingtransmitter comprises a GPRS data message.
 110. A programmablecommunicator device according to claim 104 wherein each permitted callerhas a corresponding stored telephone number or IP address from which theprogrammable communicator device is permitted to receive incomingtransmissions for processing.
 111. A programmable communicator deviceaccording to claim 104 wherein each permitted caller has a correspondingstored telephone number or IP address to which the programmablecommunicator device is permitted to send outgoing transmissions.
 112. Aprogrammable communicator device according to claim 104 wherein eachpermitted caller has a corresponding stored telephone number or IPaddress from which the programmable communicator device is permitted toreceive incoming transmissions for processing, and to which theprogrammable communicator device is permitted to send outgoingtransmissions.
 113. A programmable communicator device according toclaim 104 wherein storing the at least one telephone number or IPaddress from the authenticated data message as one of one or morepermitted callers further entails changing, replacing, or reprioritizingone or more previously stored telephone numbers or IP addressescorresponding to one or more other permitted callers.
 114. Aprogrammable communicator device according to claim 104 configured toreceive data through the programmable interface from an at least onemonitored technical device.
 115. A programmable communicator deviceaccording to claim 114 comprising a processing module for processing thedata received through the programmable interface from the at least onemonitored technical device.
 116. A programmable communicator deviceaccording to claim 115 configured to request that an at least onemonitored technical device send data through the programmable interfacefor processing by the processing module.
 117. A programmablecommunicator device according to claim 115 wherein the processing modulecauses the processed data to be transmitted to an at least onemonitoring device either periodically or in response to a requestinitiated by the at least one monitoring device.
 118. A programmablecommunicator device according to claim 117 configured to determinewhether the data request initiated by the monitoring device includes arequired access code.
 119. A programmable communicator device accordingto claim 118, wherein the authentication module determines whether thedata request includes the required access code.
 120. A programmablecommunicator device according to claim 115 wherein the processing moduleprocesses received data to determine whether it indicates a change instatus of the at least one monitored technical device that crosses athreshold parameter, or that otherwise indicates an alarm condition.121. A programmable communicator device according to claim 120 whereinthe processing module causes an at least one transmission to be sent foralerting an at least one monitoring device of said change in status orother alarm condition.
 122. A programmable communicator device accordingto claim 114 further configured to request that an at least onemonitored technical device send data through the programmable interfacefor receipt by the programmable communicator device.
 123. A programmablecommunicator device according to claim 114 further configured totransmit the received data to an at least one monitoring device eitherperiodically or in response to a request initiated by the at least onemonitoring device.
 124. A programmable communicator device according toclaim 123 further configured to determine whether the data requestinitiated by the monitoring device includes a required access code. 125.A programmable communicator device according to claim 124, wherein theauthentication module determines whether the data request includes therequired access code.
 126. A programmable communicator device accordingto claim 104 comprising a processing module for processing an at leastone data monitoring or data collection request contained in an at leastone transmission received from an at least one monitoring device.
 127. Aprogrammable communicator device according to claim 104 wherein thecommunications network is a cellular mobile telecommunications network.128. A programmable communicator device according to claim 127 whereinthe cellular mobile telecommunications network utilizes GSM airinterface standards.
 129. A programmable communicator device accordingto claim 127 wherein the cellular mobile telecommunications networkutilizes CDMA air interface standards.
 130. A programmable communicatordevice according to claim 104 wherein the coded number included in theat least one data message is a unique identifier that is unique to theprogrammable communicator device.
 131. A programmable communicatordevice according to claim 130 wherein the coded number that is unique tothe programmable communicator device is associated with a user identitycard utilized by the programmable communicator device to access acellular mobile telecommunications network.
 132. A programmablecommunicator device according to claim 104 wherein a user identity cardutilized by the programmable communicator device to access a cellularmobile telecommunications network comprises the identity module forstoring a unique identifier.
 133. A programmable communicator deviceaccording to claim 132, wherein the user identity card is a SubscriberIdentity Module (SIM) card.
 134. A programmable communicator deviceaccording to claim 104 wherein a user identity card utilized by theprogrammable communicator device to access a cellular mobiletelecommunications network comprises the memory module for storing theat least one telephone number or IP address from the authenticated datamessage.
 135. A programmable communicator device according to claim 134,wherein the user identity card is a SIM card.
 136. A programmablecommunicator device according to claim 104 wherein a portable deviceconnected to the communications network comprises the programmingtransmitter that sends the at least one transmission containing a datamessage including a coded number.
 137. A programmable communicatordevice according to claim 104 wherein a fixed device connected to thecommunications network comprises the programming transmitter that sendsthe at least one transmission containing a data message including acoded number.
 138. A programmable communicator device according to claim104 wherein a device having an Internet web interface comprises theprogramming transmitter that sends the at least one transmissioncontaining a data message including a coded number.
 139. A programmablecommunicator device according to claim 104 wherein an at least onemonitoring device comprises the programming transmitter that sends theat least one transmission containing a data message including a codednumber.
 140. A programmable communicator device according to claim 104configured to communicate between the at least one monitored technicaldevice and the at least one monitoring device.
 141. A programmablecommunicator device according to claim 104 configured to be incorporatedinto the at least one monitored technical device such that it becomes anintegrated part of the monitored technical device.
 142. A programmablecommunicator device according to claim 104 wherein a centralcommunications point in the communications network comprises the atleast one monitoring device.
 143. A programmable communicator deviceaccording to claim 104 further comprising a location processing modulefor determining an at least one location of the programmablecommunicator device, and wherein the programmable communicator deviceresponds to an at least one transmission initiated by an at least onemonitoring device requesting that said location data be sent to themonitoring device.
 144. A programmable communicator device according toclaim 143 wherein the location processing module comprises a GlobalPositioning System (GPS) module.
 145. A programmable communicator deviceaccording to claim 104 wherein the monitored technical device is asensor device.
 146. A programmable communicator device according toclaim 104 wherein the monitored technical device is a health monitoringsystem.
 147. A programmable communicator device according to claim 146wherein the programmable communicator receives data from the healthmonitoring system through the programmable interface representing atleast one of body temperature, blood pressure, periodic or continuouselectrocardiogram heart rhythm, blood glucose concentration, bloodelectrolyte concentration, kidney function, liver function, and laborcontractions.
 148. A programmable communicator device according to claim104 wherein the monitored technical device is a vending machine.
 149. Aprogrammable communicator device according to claim 104 wherein themonitored technical device is a home or domestic appliance.
 150. Aprogrammable communicator device according to claim 104 wherein themonitored technical device is at least one of a door status monitoringdevice, a window status monitoring device, a proximity detector device,and a fire alarm device.
 151. A programmable communicator devicecomprising: a wireless communications circuit for communicating throughan antenna over a communications network; a programmable interface forestablishing a communication link with at least one monitored technicaldevice; an authentication module for authenticating a data messagecontained in an at least one transmission sent from a programmingtransmitter and received by the programmable communicator device,wherein the authentication module authenticates the data message bydetermining if the data message contains a coded number, theauthentication module authenticating the data message if it includes thecoded number; a permitted callers programming module for causing amemory module to store as a permitted callers list at least onetelephone number or Internet Protocol (IP) address corresponding to anat least one monitoring device; wherein the permitted callersprogramming module allows programming changes initiated by theprogramming transmitter to be made to the permitted callers list if theauthentication module has authenticated the data message by determiningthat it includes the coded number; wherein the programmable communicatordevice uses an identity module for storing a unique identifier that isunique to the programmable communicator device; and wherein the datamessage contained in the at least one transmission from a programmingtransmitter is a Short Message Service (SMS) data message, or a GeneralPacket Radio Service (GPRS) or other packet switched data message. 152.A programmable communicator device according to claim 151, wherein theprogrammable communicator device comprises the identity module.
 153. Aprogrammable communicator device according to claim 151 wherein theprogrammable interface is programmable via data messages.
 154. Aprogrammable communicator device according to claim 153 wherein the datamessages are contained in transmissions compliant with Bluetoothwireless air interface standards.
 155. A programmable communicatordevice according to claim 151 wherein the at least one transmission froma programming transmitter comprises an SMS data message.
 156. Aprogrammable communicator device according to claim 151 wherein the atleast one transmission from a programming transmitter comprises a GPRSdata message.
 157. A programmable communicator device according to claim151 wherein each permitted caller has a corresponding stored telephonenumber or IP address from which the programmable communicator device ispermitted to receive incoming transmissions for processing.
 158. Aprogrammable communicator device according to claim 151 wherein eachpermitted caller has a corresponding stored telephone number or IPaddress to which the programmable communicator device is permitted tosend outgoing transmissions.
 159. A programmable communicator deviceaccording to claim 151 wherein each permitted caller has a correspondingstored telephone number or IP address from which the programmablecommunicator device is permitted to receive incoming transmissions forprocessing, and to which the programmable communicator device ispermitted to send outgoing transmissions.
 160. A programmablecommunicator device according to claim 151 wherein the programmingchanges to the permitted callers list initiated by the programmingtransmitter entail adding to, changing, replacing, or reprioritizing oneor more previously stored telephone numbers or IP addressescorresponding to one or more permitted callers.
 161. A programmablecommunicator device according to claim 151 configured to receive datathrough the programmable interface from an at least one monitoredtechnical device.
 162. A programmable communicator device according toclaim 161 comprising a processing module for processing the datareceived through the programmable interface from the at least onemonitored technical device.
 163. A programmable communicator deviceaccording to claim 162 configured to request that an at least onemonitored technical device send data through the programmable interfacefor processing by the processing module.
 164. A programmablecommunicator device according to claim 162 wherein the processing modulecauses the processed data to be transmitted to an at least onemonitoring device either periodically or in response to a requestinitiated by the at least one monitoring device.
 165. A programmablecommunicator device according to claim 164 further configured todetermine whether the data request initiated by the monitoring deviceincludes a required access code.
 166. A programmable communicator deviceaccording to claim 165, wherein the authentication module determineswhether the data request includes the required access code.
 167. Aprogrammable communicator device according to claim 162 wherein theprocessing module processes the received data to determine whether itindicates a change in status of the at least one monitored technicaldevice that crosses a threshold parameter, or that otherwise indicatesan alarm condition.
 168. A programmable communicator device according toclaim 167 wherein the processing module causes an at least onetransmission to be sent for alerting an at least one monitoring deviceof said change in status or other alarm condition.
 169. A programmablecommunicator device according to claim 161 further configured to requestthat an at least one monitored technical device send data through theprogrammable interface for receipt by the programmable communicatordevice.
 170. A programmable communicator device according to claim 161further configured to transmit the received data to an at least onemonitoring device either periodically or in response to a requestinitiated by the at least one monitoring device.
 171. A programmablecommunicator device according to claim 170 further configured todetermine whether the data request initiated by the monitoring deviceincludes a required access code.
 172. A programmable communicator deviceaccording to claim 171, wherein the authentication module determineswhether the data request includes the required access code.
 173. Aprogrammable communicator device according to claim 151 comprising aprocessing module for processing an at least one data monitoring or datacollection request contained in an at least one transmission receivedfrom an at least one monitoring device.
 174. A programmable communicatordevice according to claim 151 wherein the communications network is acellular mobile telecommunications network.
 175. A programmablecommunicator device according to claim 174 wherein the cellular mobiletelecommunications network utilizes GSM air interface standards.
 176. Aprogrammable communicator device according to claim 174 wherein thecellular mobile telecommunications network utilizes CDMA air interfacestandards.
 177. A programmable communicator device according to claim151 wherein the coded number included in the at least one data messageis a unique identifier that is unique to the programmable communicatordevice.
 178. A programmable communicator device according to claim 177wherein the coded number that is unique to the programmable communicatordevice is associated with a user identity card utilized by theprogrammable communicator device to access a cellular mobiletelecommunications network.
 179. A programmable communicator deviceaccording to claim 151 wherein a user identity card utilized by theprogrammable communicator device to access a cellular mobiletelecommunications network comprises the identity module for storing aunique identifier.
 180. A programmable communicator device according toclaim 179, wherein the user identity card is a Subscriber IdentityModule (SIM) card.
 181. A programmable communicator device according toclaim 151 wherein a user identity card utilized by the programmablecommunicator device to access a cellular mobile telecommunicationsnetwork comprises the memory module for storing the at least onetelephone number or IP address from the authenticated data message. 182.A programmable communicator device according to claim 181, wherein theuser identity card is a SIM card.
 183. A programmable communicatordevice according to claim 151 wherein a portable device connected to thecommunications network comprises the programming transmitter that sendsthe at least one transmission containing a data message including acoded number.
 184. A programmable communicator device according to claim151 wherein a fixed device connected to the communications networkcomprises the programming transmitter that sends the at least onetransmission containing a data message including a coded number.
 185. Aprogrammable communicator device according to claim 151 wherein a devicehaving an Internet web interface comprises the programming transmitterthat sends the at least one transmission containing a data messageincluding a coded number.
 186. A programmable communicator deviceaccording to claim 151 wherein an at least one monitoring devicecomprises the programming transmitter that sends the at least onetransmission containing a data message including a coded number.
 187. Aprogrammable communicator device according to claim 151 configured tocommunicate between the at least one monitored technical device and theat least one monitoring device.
 188. A programmable communicator deviceaccording to claim 151 configured to be incorporated into the at leastone monitored technical device such that it becomes an integrated partof the monitored technical device.
 189. A programmable communicatordevice according to claim 151 wherein a central communications point inthe communications network comprises the at least one monitoring device.190. A programmable communicator device according to claim 151 furthercomprising a location processing module for determining an at least onelocation of the programmable communicator device, and wherein theprogrammable communicator device responds to an at least onetransmission initiated by an at least one monitoring device requestingthat said location data be sent to the monitoring device.
 191. Aprogrammable communicator device according to claim 190 wherein thelocation processing module comprises a Global Positioning System (GPS)module.
 192. A programmable communicator device according to claim 151wherein the monitored technical device is a sensor device.
 193. Aprogrammable communicator device according to claim 151 wherein themonitored technical device is a health monitoring system.
 194. Aprogrammable communicator device according to claim 193 wherein theprogrammable communicator device receives data from the healthmonitoring system through the programmable interface representing atleast one of body temperature, blood pressure, periodic or continuouselectrocardiogram heart rhythm, blood glucose concentration, bloodelectrolyte concentration, kidney function, liver function, and laborcontractions.
 195. A programmable communicator device according to claim193 wherein the monitored technical device is a vending machine.
 196. Aprogrammable communicator device according to claim 151 wherein themonitored technical device is a home or domestic appliance.
 197. Aprogrammable communicator device according to claim 151 wherein themonitored technical device is at least one of a door status monitoringdevice, a window status monitoring device, a proximity detector device,and a fire alarm device.